Design. The George T. Morgan design from the 1879 Coiled
Hair stellas is carried over to a second year in the 1880 Coiled
Hair. Although the peripheral obverse inscription is the same on
all of the stellas (and multiplied proportionally on the quintuple
stellas), regardless of the metal struck, the date on the 1880
Coiled Hair is completely unlike that on the 1880 Flowing Hair
pieces. Here the date is large and well-formed, somewhat close to
the rim. The 1880 Flowing Hair pieces show a tiny date, shifted
right and close to the lowest hair curl. The reverse of the 1880
Coiled Hair is the same as on the other three types, all from the
same die.

Commentary. What was going on at the Mint in 1880, that the
Flowing Hair and Coiled Hair stella versions were executed using
two entirely different (and differently positioned) date logotypes,
one much smaller than the other? There are also other minute
positional differences in the legends encircling the obverse
periphery: Note that here the 6 is much closer to star 1 than star
2, while on the 1880 Flowing Hair it is equally spaced. This is a
fascinating anomaly with no ready answer. Like so much that
occurred with all of the Mint chicanery and hijinks--especially in
the era of Mint Director-coin collector Dr. Henry Richard
Linderman, especially in the realm of numismatic baubles and
patterns--there is no documentation now; there likely never was.
The Guide Book says bluntly, "The 1880 coins were secretly
made by Mint officials for sale to collectors." It has also been
suggested that the 1880 gold stellas were struck on two different
occasions, with two distinct finishes.

As a type and in all metals, the 1880 Coiled Hair stella is by far
the rarest of the four dates and designs overall, followed by the
1879 Coiled Hair and then the 1880 Flowing Hair. While perhaps 17
gold examples of the 1880 Flowing Hair are known, the confirmed
population of the 1880 gold Coiled Hair is nine pieces, including
one in the Smithsonian. About a dozen or so examples of the 1880
Coiled Hair survive of the copper specimens, including the gilt
coins. This marvelous stella is another opportunity for advanced
collectors to assemble a world-class cabinet of these important and
prestigious patterns.

Physical Description. The surfaces here are more
greenish-gold on the obverse and orange-gold on the reverse. The
obverse is noticeably better contrasted, and on its own might merit
a Cameo designation. Deeply mirrored fields display distinctive
contrast against thickly frosted devices. The strike, full
throughout both sides, accentuates Liberty's upswept hair and the
looping coils of the hairbun. A tiny oblong patch of copper color
on the reverse, between the T of STELLA and the C of CENT, provides
a pedigree marker. This an immensely glamorous and important
coin.